Longer Years of Practice and Higher Education Levels Promote Infection Control in Iranian Dental Practitioners

BACKGROUNDS: Infection control is one of the primary responsibilities of dental health care personnel. The purpose of this study was to evaluate whether the infection control practices of Iranian dentists and dental nurses working in governmental dental health care centers were influenced by their educational level and years of practice. METHODS: This cross-sectional analytical study was completed in 2009, and it included 63 Iranian dental practitioners. Infection control knowledge was evaluated with a self-administered questionnaire, and infection control practices were evaluated with a checklist of questions by observation with one researcher. RESULTS: The dental practitioners in Mashad had a low level of infection control knowledge. Dental personnel with a higher educational level had significantly greater knowledge than those with less education. Additionally, dental personnel who had more years of practice had a greater knowledge of infection control. CONCLUSION: Since dental practitioners working in Mashad governmental dental health care centers with fewer years of practice and less educational level had a low level of infection control knowledge, we recommend a continuing educational program for this group and dental nurses.